At the conference, most of the people walking by
Saddleback’s HIV&AIDS Initiative booth did a double take at the sign. Many
stopped to thank Brittany for being part of a church that was willing to show
up and care. Brittany noticed a woman, Gina, slowly walking by the booth
staring at the sign. As she paused, Brittany greeted her and introduced
herself. Gina smiled politely and returned the greeting. But she wanted to ask
Brittany a question – one that revealed a painful past.

A few years earlier, Brittany was a bright eyed,
outgoing student who didn’t know much about HIV or AIDS. When she heard that
there would be a global summit on AIDS at Saddleback Church she didn’t think
much of it. But the girls in her Life Group were attending so she decided to
tag along. “I sat in the worship center listening to the statistics and
stories, realizing that I had been making a lot of assumptions that simply
weren’t true,” Brittany said. “Kay Warren shared how our church wasn’t going to
stand on the sidelines any longer, that our church was going to get involved
and show we care. Listening to that vision inspired me to learn more and get
involved.”

First, Brittany had signed up for the Orange
County AIDS Walk. Showing up with a group from Saddleback, she saw firsthand
the shocked reactions of community members. “When I saw the looks on their
faces in reaction to a church that shows up, cares, and supports people who are
living with HIV, I felt further motivation to stay involved,” Brittany said.

When the opportunity arose for Brittany to join
the HIV&AIDS Initiative team at the United States AIDS Conference in
Washington D.C. this past year, she jumped at the chance.

As Brittany spoke with Gina, she welcomed the
complex question thrown her way. Brittany sensed there was something deeper
going on. “First and foremost, I wanted to show her that we care,” Brittany
said. “That moment wasn’t about theological differences, it was about caring
for people who are sick.”

As Brittany stood there talking with Gina, tears
began welling up in Gina’s eyes. Brittany asked if she’d had a bad experience
with a church before. Gina nodded as the tears flowed down her cheeks. Brittany
asked if she could give Gina a hug and they both fought back tears as Brittany
wrapped her arms around Gina.

“That moment represented someone perhaps stepping
closer back towards trust in Jesus,” Brittany recalls. “We were able to begin
restoring a bridge that had been burned. I’m praying it was the beginning of
Gina’s reconciliation and healing with the Church.”

“People infected with HIV often approach
religious groups with hesitancy, from fear or bad experiences in the past. They
don’t see it as a place of hope. When I’m serving on this team, I feel like I’m
being the hands and feet of Jesus to the marginalized. We are coming alongside
people who have been wounded and ignored for way too long.”